We recently had the opportunity to participate with the Forbes Small Giants community to share some insight about our journey as a 100% employee-owned company. While we frequently mention our 100% employee-owned business model throughout our various marketing methods and channels, it’s been echoed back to us from our client-partners as a meaningful, valuable difference felt in our approach to relationships, collaboration, problem-solving, and service. Earning that personal feedback is the highest honor; human validation of customer happiness to accompany our unrivaled market-share growth and an incredible +99% client retention rate.

Speaking of retention, our employee retention rate since becoming a 100% employee-owned company 13+ years ago is +96% (amidst a 219% headcount increase during the same time frame). That’s a key factor in the stand-out, long-term, trusting partnerships we forge with client-partners and Flexmls software subscribers alike. The kind of longevity we have here at FBS fosters highly knowledgeable, well-seasoned professionals across all departments and teams. Employee-owners are always willing to lend a hand or mentor a peer to noticeably elevate the business experience.

The dynamics of an employee-owned company empower, challenge, and reward FBS staff in unique ways that influence how our team behaves and acts together. This cascades naturally through our relationships and experiences with client-partners, community and the industry-at-large, reaching beyond the actual software products. And that’s really the space where the difference can be truly felt. FBS is more than a software provider, more than an industry innovator. We’re a company of owners who are 100% vested in the success of our customers and industry – and that’s not something that can be changed. It’s in our DNA.

]]>Welcome to two of our newest client-partners!/blog/welcome-two-newest-client-partners/
/blog/welcome-two-newest-client-partners/#commentsTue, 05 Jun 2018 14:39:20 +0000/?p=7648Welcome to two of our newest client-partners! I am excited to share that FBS will soon welcome 8,000+ new members/Flexmls System subscribers and client-partners from…Read Post

The addition of these two new client-partners is validation of our vision for the future of MLS based on standards, brought to life through our products and our personal approach to doing business. EPAR and Maine Listings shared their enthusiasm about licensing the Flexmls System with the Spring Portal, bringing the collective power and value of Spring, Spark, and Flexmls to their members (brokers and agents) and consumers alike. I’ve captured that here in a formal press release.

We’re honored they chose FBS, excited to learn more about their local markets as we work through the conversion, and super excited to welcome them personally at our upcomingSummit in July!

We’re counting down to our annual FBS Summit, assembling a fantastic agenda that helps to educate, engage, and foster meaningful dialogue with our client-partners. Today is the first of a few blogs I’ll share with some information about what’s to come in July.

If you haven’t already registered or checked out the site, the 2018 Summit theme is Together We Lead The Way, unique in that it is both aspirational and inspirational.

At the Summit, FBS and MLS leadership will share current, real, live-initiatives born from shared vision, common goals, and true collaboration. Attendees will hear about and see what’s happening right now, understanding how by working together, we have tremendous power to deliver future-focused solutions for our industry and consumers.

Kicking off some announcements of speakers and agenda topics today, I’m proud to share that we’ll have ARMLS CEO, Matt Consalvo and Metro MLS CEO, Chris Carrillo in attendance. Matt and Chris are longstanding, valued FBS client-partners who beautifully demonstrate collaborative spirit and industry leadership. Their recently announced joint venture, as described on their marketing site OurMLSDNA.com, perfectly exemplifies the Summit theme of leading the way together. Through collaboration, they discovered that they share both business and cultural “DNA”. Through an innovative joint venture, they plan to maximize the value of that shared DNA to benefit each other, brokers, agents, and consumers alike.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Matt and Chris and as you would expect, it was a super-lively, fun, and informative call. They may or may not have used a Milli Vanilli analogy – you decide.

Kidding aside, it’s an honor to have such bright and insightful associates. Here’s a little taste of what they had to share. Chris added, “We believe long-term success is accomplished by taking the foundation of what’s already contributed to our organization’s success, including our partners, and building upon that. Why risk what made us special by abandoning our core in pursuit of something new, shiny, and unproven? To us,jumpinginto a one-size fits all anything is likely not the solution.” During our chat, it was clear that their new venture is about maximizing what’s shared and preserving what’s unique about each of their organizations including maintaining their individual, hyper-local approach. That’s a beautiful thing! Matt added great wisdom here stating, “So often, new industry entities want to be the sole lifeline to the MLS. But first things first, the MLS must be a strong entity all its own and from that place of strength, must be the architect of its own future, aligning with key partners who have a shared vision, who can help make their future aspirations a reality.”

In light of the mass-devastation caused by December’s Southern California wildfires (finally contained mid-January 2018), the two associations worked with their communities to assemble a list of available rental properties. But they didn’t stop there. They wanted to make that list easily accessible to displaced residents and decided to use their MLS system to make it a reality: that system happens to be Flexmls.

FBS Staff worked closely with the MLS Administrators to quickly get this new Property Type in place within the Flexmls System and the two Associations were able to respond to their critical, local market needs without delay. Action-oriented, engaged leadership super-staff (Associations) + great partnerships (FBS + the Associations) + Excellent tools (Flexmls) = Grand Slam.

Over the years, we’ve worked hard to deliver products that are future-focused, including theFlexmls System and the groundbreaking, standards-drivenSpark API. True to its name, the Flexmls System affords the highest flexibility, empowering MLS staff to customize their MLS system to unique marketplace needs (business rules, new fields, pick lists, search templates, and field constraints).

]]>A New Resource Just For MLS Executives & Admins: MLSToolkit/blog/new-resource-just-mls-executives-admins-mlstoolkit/
Tue, 01 May 2018 08:00:08 +0000/?p=7569Hello from the Broker Agent Services department here at FBS! It’s likely the first time our team is posting here on the FBS blog to…Read Post

It’s likely the first time our team is posting here on the FBS blog to communicate with our MLS customers so, we want to start out with a quick intro to Broker Agent Services (aka “BAS”.)

BAS provides IDX subscriptions to Flexmls members with a line of products that integrate with Flexmls portals and contact manager, helping agents to create simple and affordable home search options for their website. In addition, we are committed to helping your agents understand the fundamentals of how IDX works so they can make smarter and more successful decisions about their online marketing strategy.

The home search/IDX market is crowded and constantly changing; it’s often hard to keep up. Likely you are approached with many questions regarding home search website tools and, since this is our wheelhouse here at BAS, we got to thinking about a way to make it easier for you to help your members understand what’s available to them and why that’s valuable to their business.

That’s why we have created for you your very own, online resource to help you communicate the benefits, features and best practices for IDX to your members. We’re calling it the MLSToolkit, a resource center to support you!

White-labeled content to take and make your own – presentation decks with presenter notes, success articles, PDF downloads and infographics. Just add your own logo and contact info.

A blog which will be populated weekly with posts designed to help you stay abreast of the issues that have an impact on your member’s Internet marketing strategies and best practices for IDX home search, lead capture, and much more.

And your new IDX home base is just getting started. Your feedback and suggestions will be an important part of developing MLSToolkit into what will be one of your most important member development resources.

Take a look at the site, and let us know what you think. We know it’s our first time using the FBS blog to talk to you all so please also check-out our training page at www.fbsproducts.com/trainings and see if there is anything else we can do to help you and your members. Feel free to e-mail our IDX Trainer, Mike Price mprice@fbsdata with questions and ideas!